It's been just shy of a decade since the last installment in the Dragon Age series was released, but based on the previews for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, it seems like this new game will be well worth the wait. Fans of the franchise have been repeatedly hesitant about any excitement for the game, given the teased changes and the many names that have departed development since it was initially announced.

Recent releases from developer BioWare have also been less-than-stellar. But it seems that despite the previous stumbles, BioWare is ready to wow players with its newest game. Based on the Dragon Age: The Veilguard previews released this week, which reportedly gave reporters anywhere from six to seven hours of hands-on experience with the game, the new game features many well-needed improvements alongside upgrades fans have been vocal about needing for years. Here's a breakdown of what these previews have unveiled about the game so far.

Character Customization Has Been Vastly Improved In The Veilguard

There Are So Many Hair Options

Probably one of the first major improvements players will find in The Veilguard is the game's character creator, which has received a massive overhaul. As noted by IGN writer Alyssa Mora, this new franchise installment features options for just about every hair type, "whether you’d like totally straight hair, 2B waves or 4C curls." The game features 30 hair options for Qunari and 88 for non-Qunari characters. Though it may seem like just hair, options like this give players better opportunities to see themselves in the games they play.

The Veilguard is also the first game in the franchise to let players choose Qunari as a starting race, alongside the traditional elf, dwarf, and human options. Players can choose from three starting classes: rogue, warrior, and mage; though this seems like slim starting options, the faction options and skill tree upgrades allow for more personalization and niche choices throughout gameplay. Screen Rant referred to the character creator as "unsurprisingly the best in the franchise," and longtime fans are bound to see the difference in it upon startup.

But it doesn't seem to be just the hair that makes the character creator an upgrade - it's also in the body types. As pointed out by Susana Polo at Polygon, even the starting skinny base options can be modified to include people of other body sizes. Polo described her character as an elf with "round, round thighs, a curved, soft stomach, and hips that, like mine, would find those dumb metal Ikea chairs that every restaurant in New York seems to have right now infuriatingly uncomfortable."

The backstory and faction options also seem to add a lot of depth to the character customization options. Different dialogue options are available based on the faction chosen, and though it doesn't seem entirely clear just yet what impact faction choices have on companion ratings, it's a feature that easily adds an additional layer of immersion to the roleplaying aspect of the game.

New Dragon Age Combat Is Another Impressive Strong Point

Previewers Detail How Fluid It Feels In The Veilguard

Combat in The Veilguard also received a pretty significant upgrade, and though players no longer have full control over the companions in their party while in combat, it makes for a more collaborative combat experience. The ability wheel details the various combinations players can execute as they tackle a particular boss - but they'll have to be quick to successfully execute the creative combat combinations.

IGN's Mora detailed how the companion characters would call out to the player character as their mana refilled or they were ready for a new direction. She referred to the game's combat as "a departure from all three previous installments," noting that even for story-driven players, it'll still feel particularly refreshing and rewarding — once players have cleared the learning curve.

There are also five difficulty options in the game, which can make combat a cakewalk for those itching to get into the new storyline, or masochistic gamers can spend their hours trying different methods of tackling powerful bosses and enemy waves. The starting difficulty level isn't a permanent choice if players don't want it to be; at any point during gameplay, difficulty can be toggled to allow players to get their feet wet before diving into the tougher options.

The Veilguard's Story Seems To Be Its Biggest Setback

BioWare Gives Players Power and Control In Everything But The Narrative

Overall, the previews for Dragon Age: The Veilguard are glowing and note the changes made have demonstrated clearly that BioWare has been listening to what its players want. But when it comes to the game's narrative, this seems to be where some previewers find issues. PC Mag's Lauren Morton said the game was "desperate to chew my food for me," noting how the consequences of actions were outlined in explicit detail, not trusting the player to decipher subtext and dialogue as much as other games have.

The game's narrative leans heavily on the events of a previous installment — but The Veilguard is far from the first to come out with a follow-up so delayed, and as Morton noted, "there isn't an 'I understand how BioWare games work' toggle." Players familiar with the franchise may find this feels a bit like the developers are holding their hand, though newcomers may appreciate the over-explanation as they dive into their first Dragon Age game.

As the release date for Dragon Age: The Veilguard inches closer, these previews seem to suggest that players can breathe just a little bit easier. Though there are still many details left unrevealed, and a whole two acts of the game that weren't explored in the previews, longtime fans have fewer reasons to be hesitant about the game, and maybe more reasons to actually let themselves be excited.

Sources: Polygon, PC Mag, IGN